Camp-On: Glen Camp at Point Reyes National Seashore

Ride-On held our annual party in the wilderness, “Camp-On”, at Point Reyes National Seashore’s Glen Camp. A secluded location in the coastal forest, it requires either a 4.6-mile hike or a 6.3-mile bike ride to access it — both of which are challenging if you’re towing a heavy touring bike with you!

Our intrepid group this year included Bridget, Chava, Daniel, Ellen, Jorge, Jumana, Justin, Kearstin, May, Neil, Nick, Pamela, The Bearded One and myself — and it was the first Camp-On event that journeyed forth without a support vehicle! (Dustin and Kelly were greatly missed and thanks for helping to make the reservation for our spot!) As we sweated away in the summer sun, we biked close to 90-miles round trip. Here are the highlights: Arizmendi for breakfast and eventually rolling out before 11; getting our first two of four flats in Inspiration Point and Sausalito; TBO took the dirt route to Olema and hallucinated due to the heat and a lack of water and food: “I’m seeing phantom hikers on the Bolinas Ridge Trail”; a lovely picnic lunch in Fairfax (and seeing friends Ira and Mel); climbing White’s Hill in the scorching afternoon temperatures afterwards; getting another flat but meeting a cool couple that lives on San Geronimo Valley Drive that lent us a pump (and one guy wrenches for Xtracycle); beer stop in Lagunitas (and May pampered us by putting ice in our water bottles); one crew heading to the camp site with the other shopping in Pt. Reyes Station for groceries; bushwhacking through the steep portion of the trail to Glen Camp with much cursing, brought on by stinging nettles, poison oak and sheer exertion; a delicious taco feast for dinner with many beers, beers and more beers; scrambled eggs and leftovers for breakfast; a tough push-your-bike hike out of Glen Camp but rewarded afterwards with a most excellent descent (whilst dodging horse poop) back to Olema; taking the ferry back to the city from Larkspur with our last round of cold beers.